JPH1074429A - Jogging pad, and information input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operating terminal realizing miniaturization, light weight, the reduction of the number of part items and a cost, and the improvement of reliability and resolution. SOLUTION: In a jogging pad 10, a thin resistor 14 and a thin conductor 16 are printed on one side inner side of a sheet 12 folded by the center line P and in a position in accordance with the resistor 14 and a thickness direction on the other side inner side respectively. That, is the jogging pad 10 has airtight structure, and is thinly formed by a few parts. The conductor 16 is electrically connected to the end part 14B of the resistor 14, and when the sheet 12 is pressed, a resisting value between both the ends of the resistor 14 is changed because a pressed part is pressed down and the resistor 14 is brought into contact with the conductor 16 in a position corresponding to the pressed part. Also, the resistant value changes following the movement of the pressed part, and in accordance with the movement direction and the movement quantity. Thus, an electric change is caused in accordance with the pressing motion or movement action of the sheet 12 in this constitution.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a jog pad and an information input device, and more particularly to a jog pad and an information input device. The present invention relates to a jog pad as an operation unit for inputting set information and an information input device provided with the jog pad.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, mini disks have been widely used as information storage media. This mini-disc can record not only audio data but also character data such as a title and a comment of about 1700 characters. Along with this, many recent mini-disc recording / reproducing machines have a character input function.

A mini disk recording / reproducing apparatus having such a character input function usually includes a jog dial 96 shown in FIG. 11 and a display 44 shown in FIG. 16 instead of a keyboard for inputting characters. Jog dial 9
6 is provided with a rotary knob 97. By rotating the rotary knob 97 in the direction of arrow V1 or arrow V2, the cursor 72 is moved to a character string displayed in a predetermined arrangement on the display 44 of FIG. Arrow W1 or arrow W
A desired character is selected by moving in two directions, and a character is input by operating a confirmation key 98 separately provided in FIG. 11 (the character string 74 in FIG. 16 indicates the input character string). .

Incidentally, a rotary encoder is usually used for the jog dial. The structure of this rotary encoder is almost the same as that of a normal rotary volume. For example, a slider is rotated and slid on each of two resistance patterns 92 and 94 printed on an insulating sheet 90 shown in FIG. Output A and output B as shown in FIG.
And the sum of the outputs A and B (A + B) changes to detect one step. Further, in the example of FIG. 13, the rotation direction can be detected based on whether A + B changes to “0, 1, 3, 2, 0” or “0, 2, 3, 1, 0”. Note that the sum (A + B) of the output A and the output B indicates a binary decimal value in which the value of the output A is set to the one's place and the value of the output B is set to the two's place.

[0005]

However, the rotary encoder has almost the same shape as a normal volume and has a thickness of about 5 mm to 10 mm.

Since the rotary encoder is basically a single-function component, operations for entering the character input mode, starting reproduction of the mini-disc, and starting recording on the mini-disc are performed by separately provided operation keys. Was instructed to execute. The operator presses the enter key and the operation key described above, and is therefore called a tact switch.
That is, a conventional mini-disc recording / reproducing apparatus or the like is provided with both a jog dial and a tact switch.

Further, a jog dial constituted by a rotary encoder requires a separate rotary knob for operation. Further, as the internal configuration of the parts, mechanical parts such as a resistance pattern, a slider contact, a rotating shaft, and a bearing were required.

Due to the above-mentioned factors, it is difficult to reduce the size and weight of the conventional mini-disc recording / reproducing apparatus having a jog dial constituted by a rotary encoder, and it is difficult to reduce the number of parts and reduce the cost of the apparatus. Was.

In addition, since the electrical output obtained by the sliding of the slider on the resistance pattern is detected, that is, the detection depends on the contact by the sliding, it is difficult to eliminate malfunction and it is difficult for the device to operate. It had been a bottleneck in improving reliability.

On the other hand, the resolution with respect to the rotation angle depends on the printing resolution inside the rotary encoder. For example, a commonly used small diameter of 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm
And the resolution of about 10 to 30 steps was the limit. In other words, there is a limit to improving the resolution in reducing the size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and is a jog pad for inputting information such as characters and selecting a function. A first object is to provide a jog pad capable of reducing cost, improving reliability and improving resolution, and to provide an information input device provided with such a jog pad as an operation unit. This is the purpose of 2.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a jog pad comprising a sheet-like insulator having a pair of opposed flat portions. When the portion is pressed to the other flat portion side, the supporting portion is configured such that the pressed portion is recessed and is restored by elastic force, and is formed into a loop shape so that both ends are close to each other, and one of the pair of flat portions is formed. A thin plate-shaped resistor disposed on the opposite surface of the pair, one end of which is brought into conduction with one end of the resistor, and faces the resistor on the other opposing surface of the pair of flat portions and separates in a non-pressed state And a thin plate-shaped conductor arranged in
When the one flat portion is pressed, the resistor and the conductor directly contact at a position corresponding to the pressed portion, and when the pressed portion moves along the arrangement of the resistor while the flat portion is pressed, the pressing is performed. When the contact portion between the resistor and the conductor moves according to the movement of the portion, the resistance value of the resistor that contributes to the electric circuit composed of the resistor and the conductor connected in series at the contact portion Is changed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the jog pad according to the first aspect, wherein a spacer is provided in a portion of the gap between the pair of flat portions other than the portion where the conductor or resistor is arranged. Features.

Further, in the jog pad according to the third aspect,
In the jog pad according to claim 1 or 2,
The resistor has a first protruding portion on the outer peripheral side of one end, and a second protruding portion formed on the inner peripheral side of the other end so as to overlap the first protruding portion in the width direction. It has a protruding part.

In order to achieve the second object, the information input device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention presses a surface of a predetermined jog pad or moves a pressing portion while pressing the surface of the jog pad, thereby preliminarily setting the jog pad. An information input device for inputting information set in response to a pressing operation or a moving operation, wherein the information input device is configured by a sheet-shaped insulator having a pair of opposed flat portions, and one flat portion is the other flat surface. The support member is configured such that the pressed portion is restored to the original state by the concave elasticity when pressed toward the portion side, and is formed in a loop shape so that both ends are close to each other, and disposed on one of the opposed surfaces of the pair of flat portions. And a thin plate, one end of which is in a conductive state with one end of the resistor, and which is disposed on the other opposing surface of the pair of flat portions facing the resistor and separated in a non-pressed state. Shaped conductor, and A jog pad, detecting means for detecting the potential at both ends of the resistor when the one flat portion is pressed in a state where a predetermined potential difference is provided at both ends of the resistor, and Based on the detected potential, input information specifying means for specifying input information,
It is characterized by having.

In the information input device according to the fifth aspect,
The information input device according to claim 4, wherein the input information specifying unit is configured to determine the input information based on a potential detected by the detection unit.
Determining means for determining whether or not the pressed portion has moved while the one flat portion is being pressed; and, when the determining means determines that the pressed portion has moved, a moving operation based on the detected potential. And a movement operation specifying means for specifying information corresponding to the information.

In the information input device according to the sixth aspect,
The information input device according to claim 4, wherein the input information specifying unit is configured to determine the input information based on a potential detected by the detection unit.
Determining means for determining whether or not the pressed portion has moved while the one flat portion has been pressed; and, if the determining portion determines that the pressed portion has not moved, based on the detected potential. Pressing operation specifying means for specifying information corresponding to the pressing operation.

In the information input device according to the present invention,
7. The information input device according to claim 6, wherein the pressing operation specifying unit specifies the information only when the detected potential changes and the changed potential continues for a predetermined time or more.
It is characterized by the following.

The jog pad according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a support member formed of a sheet-shaped insulator having a pair of opposed flat portions. This support member may be formed of a pair of sheet-shaped insulators facing each other, may be formed by folding one sheet-shaped insulator at a predetermined position, and may form one sheet. The insulator may be bent in a U-shape and formed. In addition, the support member is configured such that when one flat surface is pressed toward the other flat surface, the pressed portion is recessed and returns to its original state by elastic force.

A thin plate-shaped resistor formed in a loop shape so that both ends are close to each other is disposed on one of the opposing surfaces of the pair of flat portions of the support member, and the other of the pair of flat portions is opposed to the other. On the surface, a thin plate-shaped conductor is arranged so as to face the resistor and separate in a non-pressed state. One end of the conductor is in conduction with one end of the resistor.

When the surface of the jog pad having such a structure is pressed (that is, when one flat portion is pressed toward the other flat portion), the pressed portion is recessed and the resistor and the conductor are positioned at positions corresponding to the pressed portions. Is in direct contact with Thereby, in the resistor, a contact portion with the conductor and one end connected to the conductor are electrically short-circuited, and the contact portion contributes to an electric circuit composed of the resistor and the conductor connected in series at the contact portion. The resistance value of the resistor (hereinafter referred to as resistance value R) changes. Specifically, the resistance between both ends of the resistor in the non-contact state is represented by a resistance R
_If it is set to ₀ , the resistance value R decreases from the resistance value _{R0 according} to the position of the contact portion (the position of the pressed portion). That is, the resistance value R
It is possible to specify the position of the pressed portion based on the amount of change from the resistance value R ₀ . Incidentally, the resistance value R of the immediately after pressing and the resistance value R _1.

Further, when the jog pad is moved in a direction approaching one end connected to the conductor along the arrangement of the resistor while pressing the surface of the jog pad, the contact portion of the resistor with the conductor is connected to the conductor. It will be one end approaches, the resistance value R increases gradually from the resistance value R _1, only the change amount corresponding to the amount of movement of the pressing partial resistance value increases.

On the other hand, when the jog pad is moved in a direction away from one end connected to the conductor along the arrangement of the resistor while pressing the surface of the jog pad, a contact portion of the resistor with the conductor and one end connected to the conductor are formed. Will go away,
Resistance R gradually decreases from the resistance value R _1, only the change amount corresponding to the amount of movement of the pressing partial resistance value decreases.

As described above, the moving direction and the moving amount of the pressed portion can be specified based on the change tendency and the change amount of the resistance value R from the resistance value R ₁ .

The resistor is formed in a loop shape so that both ends are close to each other. Specifically, the resistor 14 shown in FIG.
14 (A), and the resistor 1 shown in FIG.
An elliptical shape such as 4T or a resistor 1 shown in FIG.
It may be a polygon such as 4U. By forming the resistor in a loop shape in which both ends are close to each other as described above, when the pressing portion is moved along the arrangement of the resistor as described above, the same is repeated many times along the loop-shaped resistor. The orbit can be moved. That is, there is no restriction on the amount of movement when moving the pressed portion, and the degree of freedom is high.

As described above, in the jog pad according to the first aspect, when the jog pad is pressed, the change tendency and the change amount of the resistance value R of the resistor which contributes to the electric circuit formed by the resistor and the conductor are detected. By doing so, it is possible to specify the position of the pressed portion on the jog pad surface, the moving direction and the amount of movement of the pressed portion.

Therefore, for example, various types of information are set in advance in accordance with the position of the pressed portion on the surface of the jog pad and the moving direction and amount of movement of the pressed portion, and the pressing operation or the moving operation is performed in accordance with the desired information. Is performed, the resistance value R is detected,
The position of the pressed portion, the moving direction and the moving amount of the pressed portion are specified based on the detected change in the resistance value R, and the desired position corresponding to the specified position of the pressed portion, the moving direction and the moving amount of the pressed portion is determined. Information can be specified. Thus, using the jog pad according to the first aspect, it is possible to perform information input equivalent to that of the conventional jog dial and tact switch.

On the other hand, the jog pad according to the first aspect is composed of only a thin-plate-shaped resistor, a conductor and a sheet-shaped support member, and there is no need to separately provide components such as a rotary knob and a rotary shaft thereof. Therefore, the whole can be formed very thin, and the size and weight can be reduced. Further, since the number of parts can be reduced, the cost can be reduced.

Further, in the jog pad according to the first aspect,
Since the resistor is provided on one opposing surface of the pair of flat portions and the conductor is provided on the other opposing surface, an airtight structure can be obtained. Thereby, the resistance value R between both ends of the resistor is obtained.
When detecting the like, it is possible to prevent errors and variations from occurring due to the influence of dust, gas, dust and the like in the detection. In addition, instead of sliding the electrical contacts of the slider along the resistor as in the past, the conductor is simply brought into contact with the conductor that has been placed opposite in advance, so that the detection can be made by the sliding contact. The reliability of detection can be improved as compared with the related art.

Furthermore, in the jog pad according to the first aspect, the detection resolution can be easily improved by finely classifying the amount of movement of the pressed portion in advance and setting information for each of a large number of classified amounts of movement. Can be.

In the jog pad according to the first aspect described above, as in the second aspect of the present invention, the spacer is provided at a portion other than the printed portion of the conductor or resistor in the gap between the pair of flat portions, When the jog pad is not pressed, the conductor and the resistor can be more reliably separated from each other, and the reliability of detection can be further improved.

In the invention according to claim 3, for example,
As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, in the resistor 14S, a first protruding portion is provided on an outer peripheral side of one end, and a first protruding portion is provided on an inner peripheral side of the other end. By providing the second protrusions formed to overlap each other in the width direction, both ends of the resistor can be arranged close to each other. This allows
When moving the pressing portion from one end of the resistor to the other end, it is possible to prevent the resistor and the conductor from being in a non-contact state despite pressing the jog pad,
For example, it is possible to prevent an erroneous determination that the resistor has not been pressed.

Next, the information input device according to claim 4 includes a jog pad, and the jog pad includes a support member made of a sheet-like insulator having a pair of opposed flat surface portions. I have. In addition, the support member is configured such that when one flat surface is pressed toward the other flat surface, the pressed portion is recessed and returns to its original state by elastic force.

A thin plate-like resistor formed in a loop shape such that both ends are close to each other is disposed on one of the opposing surfaces of the pair of flat portions of the support member, and the other of the pair of flat portions is opposed to the other. On the surface, a thin plate-shaped conductor is arranged so as to face the resistor and separate in a non-pressed state. One end of the conductor is in conduction with one end of the resistor.

When the surface of the jog pad having such a structure is pressed (that is, when one flat portion is pressed toward the other flat portion), the pressed portion is recessed and the resistor and the conductor are positioned at positions corresponding to the pressed portions. Is in direct contact with As a result, in the resistor, a portion in contact with the conductor and one end connected to the conductor are electrically short-circuited, and the resistor contributing to an electric circuit composed of the resistor and the conductor connected in series at the contact portion. The resistance R of the body changes. Specifically, assuming that a resistance value between both ends of the resistor in the non-contact state is a resistance value R ₀ , the resistance value R decreases from the resistance value R _{0 according} to the position of the contact portion (the position of the pressed portion). . That is, the position of the pressed portion can be specified based on the amount of change in the resistance value R from the resistance value R ₀ . Incidentally, the resistance value R of the immediately after pressing and the resistance value R _1.

Further, when the jog pad is moved in a direction approaching one end connected to the conductor along the arrangement of the resistor while pressing the surface of the jog pad, the contact portion of the resistor with the conductor is connected to the conductor. It will be one end approaches, the resistance value R increases gradually from the resistance value R _1, only the change amount corresponding to the amount of movement of the pressing partial resistance value increases.

On the other hand, when the jog pad is moved in a direction away from one end connected to the conductor along the arrangement of the resistor while pressing the surface of the jog pad, a contact portion of the resistor with the conductor and one end connected to the conductor are formed. Will go away,
Resistance R gradually decreases from the resistance value R _1, only the change amount corresponding to the amount of movement of the pressing partial resistance value decreases.

As described above, it is possible to specify the moving direction and the moving amount of the pressed portion based on the change tendency and the change amount of the resistance value R from the resistance value R ₁ .

By the way, in the information input device according to the fourth aspect, information is set in advance corresponding to the pressing operation or the moving operation. Further, the information input device is provided with detection means for detecting a potential at both ends of the resistor, and when the jog pad is pressed in a state where a predetermined potential difference is provided at both ends of the resistor by this detection means. (When one flat portion is pressed), the potential at both ends of the resistor can be detected.

As described above, the detected potential changes according to the position of the first pressed portion, and then changes according to the moving direction and the moving amount of the pressed portion. The change in the potential is determined from the determined potential, the position of the first pressed portion, the moving direction and the amount of movement of the pressed portion corresponding to the obtained change in the potential are specified, and the position of the specified first pressed portion, the moving direction of the pressed portion are specified. And information corresponding to the movement amount (that is, input information) can be specified. Thus, according to the information input device of the fourth aspect, it is possible to input information equivalent to that of the conventional jog dial and tact switch.

Further, the information input device according to the fourth aspect includes:
Since the jog pad equivalent to the jog pad according to the first aspect is provided as the operation unit, the same effect as the jog pad according to the first aspect, that is, downsizing, weight reduction, reduction in the number of parts, and cost reduction are achieved. Effects such as reduction, improvement in reliability, and improvement in resolution can be obtained.

The input information specifying means can be configured to include a determining means and a moving operation specifying means. First, based on the potential detected by the determination means, it is determined whether or not the pressed portion has been moved while the one flat portion is being pressed (whether or not the pressed portion has been stopped without moving the pressed portion). Here, when it is determined that the pressed portion has moved, a change in the potential is obtained from the detected potential by the moving operation specifying means, and the moving operation of the pressed portion corresponding to the obtained change in the potential (moving direction of the pressed portion) And the movement amount), and information corresponding to the movement operation can be specified.

On the other hand, the input information specifying means can be configured to include a determining means and a pressing operation specifying means, specifically, as in the sixth aspect of the present invention. First, based on the potential detected by the determination means, it is determined whether or not the pressed portion has been moved while one flat portion is being pressed. Here, when it is determined that the pressed portion has not moved, that is, the pressing has been stopped without moving the pressed portion, a change in potential is obtained from the detected potential by the pressing operation specifying means, and the obtained potential The pressing operation (the position of the pressed portion) corresponding to the change can be specified, and the information corresponding to the position of the pressed portion can be specified.

However, the jog pad may be inadvertently touched and pressed. Therefore, if the pressing operation specifying means is configured to specify the information only when the detected potential changes and the changed potential continues for a predetermined time or more, the pressing operation specifying unit may unexpectedly touch the jog pad. It is possible to prevent a useless operation in which the pressing operation specifying means operates every time in the case of a bad contact or the like.

[0045]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following first embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to an information input device for inputting characters using a mini-disc recording / reproducing machine or the like will be described.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a jog pad 10 as an operation unit in the information input device. Jog pad 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a substantially rectangular sheet 12 made of a thin-plate insulator having elasticity, a resistor 14 having a shape of a circular arc with a part of the arc cut out, and a resistor 14 An arc-shaped conductor 16 having substantially the same size as the above, a wire 18 electrically connecting an end 14B of the resistor 14 and the conductor 16 and having a terminal 18A to the outside, and one end of the resistor 14 And a wiring 20 whose other end is an external terminal 20A.

The sheet 12, the resistor 14, and the conductor 1
6, the wirings 18 and 20 are all formed thin, and the sheet 12 is bent at a center line indicated by a broken line P. As shown in FIG. 2, the resistor 14 is printed on one inside of the folded sheet 12, and the conductor 16 is
Is printed at a position corresponding to the printing position of the resistor 14 on the inside of the other bent side.

Also, as shown in FIG.
In this example, the inner surface of the folded sheet 12 and the upper and lower surfaces of the spacer sheet 22 are bonded to each other with an adhesive 24. By the thickness of the spacer sheet 22 and the adhesive 24,
The resistor 14 and the conductor 16 are held apart.

The spacer sheet 22 is provided with holes 23 at positions corresponding to the printing positions of the resistor 14 and the conductor 16 as shown in FIG.
Are opposed to each other with nothing between them.

The jog pad 10 is formed very thin, the thickness F1 is about 0.3 mm as an example, and the distance F2 between the resistor 14 and the conductor 16 is about 0.1 to 0.2 mm.
Are set respectively.

As shown in FIG. 15A, the surface of the jog pad 10 in a bent state is provided with a resistor 1
A line 80 indicating the position where 4 is printed is described, and an area between the inner line and the outer line is an operation area 84. Marks 82 are printed at predetermined angular intervals near the outer line 80.
The interval of 2 corresponds to one step of the conventional rotary encoder.

By the way, since the sheet 12 has elasticity, when pressed by a finger or the like, the pressed portion is dented, and when pressed, the pressed portion returns to the original position. As a result, FIG.
2 is pressed by a finger or the like as shown by an arrow Q in FIG. 2, the pressed portion of the sheet 12 is recessed, and the conductor 16 corresponding to the pressed portion and the resistor 14 come into contact. When the pressed portion is moved in the operation area 84 while being pressed, the contact portion between the conductor 16 and the resistor 14 also moves with the movement.

Next, the configuration of the information input device 11 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG.
Of the other terminal 20A is grounded.
Is connected to one end of a resistor 28 and a voltage detection terminal 30. The other end of the resistor 28 is connected to a constant voltage application terminal 32 to which a constant DC voltage (B volt) is applied. A voltmeter 36 is connected to the voltage detection terminal 30, and the voltmeter 36 measures the DC voltage of the voltage detection terminal 30. This measurement result is output to a microcomputer (microcomputer) 40. An operation unit 42 such as a mini disc recording / reproducing device and a display 44 are connected to the microcomputer 40. Note that the resistance of the resistor 28 is R1, and the resistance of the resistor 14 is R2.

In the information input device 11, when the jog pad 10 is not pressed, the resistance value between the constant voltage application terminal 32 and the terminal 18A is (R1 + R2), and the voltage of the voltage detection terminal 30 is (B1). × R2 / (R1 + R
2)). This voltage is referred to as a release voltage C.

When the conductor 16 and the resistor 14 are brought into contact with each other by pressing the jog pad 10, the contact point on the resistor 14 and the terminal 18A are electrically short-circuited.
The resistance value between the terminals 18A becomes lower than R2. The amount of decrease is the position of the contact point on the resistor 14, that is, the end 14
It changes depending on where it is located between A and 14B. As described above, as the resistance value between the terminals 20A to 18A becomes lower than R2, the voltage of the voltage detection terminal 30 becomes lower than the release voltage C. Note that the voltage of the voltage detection terminal 30 in a state where the jog pad 10 is pressed is defined as an operating voltage V.

That is, assuming that the resistance between the terminals 20A to 18A after pressing is R2X, the operating voltage V is (B × R2X
/ (R1 + R2X)). Since R2> R2X, the release voltage C> the operating voltage V.

When the pressed portion of the jog pad 10 is moved, the resistance between the terminals 20A to 18A changes according to the direction and amount of movement, and the operating voltage V changes accordingly.

For example, when the pressed portion is moved in the direction of arrow Y2 in FIG. 1, the resistance value between the terminals 20A to 18A decreases in accordance with the amount of movement, and the operating voltage V also decreases in accordance with the amount of movement. I do. Conversely, when the pressed portion is moved in the direction of the arrow Y1 in FIG. 1, the resistance value between the terminals 20A to 18A increases according to the amount of movement, and accordingly the operating voltage V also increases according to the amount of movement.

The microcomputer 40 fetches the information of the operating voltage V detected by the voltmeter 36 from time to time, and detects the change of the operating voltage V as described above. The operating voltage V
, The moving direction and the moving amount of the pressed portion are detected.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the character string displayed on the display 44 in the character input mode is
The microcomputer 40 moves the cursor 72 in the direction of the arrow W1 or the arrow W2 according to the moving direction and the moving amount of the pressed portion. Specifically, the number of times that the cursor 72 has crossed the position corresponding to the mark 82 in the operation area 84 of FIG.
To move. The direction of movement is such that the pressed part is shown in FIG.
When the movement is performed in the direction of arrow Y1 in FIG. 15A, the direction is changed to the direction of arrow W1 in FIG.
When the movement is performed in two directions, the direction is defined as an arrow W2 direction in FIG.

After the movement of the cursor 72 is completed, a function of specifying the character designated by the cursor 72 as input character information is provided. Further, the microcomputer 40 displays the specified character information in the area 44A of the display 44 and outputs the character information to the operation unit 42 at a predetermined timing (such as when character input is completed). The operation unit 42 performs an operation of recording the specified character information on the mini disk, for example.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. First, the pressed portion of the jog pad 10 is shown in FIG.
A voltage change of the voltage detection terminal 30 when the voltage detection terminal 30 is moved in the arrow Y2 direction will be described with reference to FIG.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 4, but up to the time T ₁ to start pressing the jog pad 10 is the voltage of the voltage detecting terminal 30 is constant at the release voltage C, jog pad 1 to the time T ₁
Pressing 0 sharply decreases. Then, moving in the arrow Y2 direction the pressing portion to the time T _2, the operating voltage V is gradually increased in accordance with the amount of movement, the time T ₃ has reached the pressing portion the end portion 14B returns to the release voltage C . However, immediately after that, when the pressed portion moves to the end 14A, the terminals 20A and 18
Since A is electrically short-circuited, the operating voltage V becomes “0”.

Thereafter, when the pressed portion is moved again in the direction of arrow Y2, the operating voltage V gradually increases in accordance with the amount of movement,
Said time T in the pressing portion of time has reached the end 14B T _{4
As in the case of 3,} the voltage returns to the release voltage C. From then on, the operating voltage V as a time T ₃ through T ₄ repeats increased according to the movement of the pressing portion in the range of (0 to release voltage C).

Next, the input information specifying process performed by the microcomputer 40 will be described with reference to FIG. In step 102 of FIG. 5, the voltage of the voltage detection terminal 30 is detected by the voltmeter 36,
In the next step 104, it is determined whether or not the detected voltage has changed from the release voltage C. Here, if the detected voltage does not change from the release voltage C, the jog pad 1
Since it can be determined that 0 has not been pressed, the process returns to step 102 to repeatedly detect the voltage.

On the other hand, at step 104, the voltage is
If it has changed, it can be determined that the jog pad 10 has been pressed, and the routine proceeds to step 106. Step 1
In step 06, the voltage of the voltage detection terminal 30 (here, the operating voltage V) is detected again by the voltmeter 36, and the next step 10
At 8, it is determined whether or not the detected operating voltage V has returned to the release voltage C. However, in step 108, the state in which the operating voltage V returns to the release voltage C continues for a predetermined time or more so as to exclude the case where the operating voltage V returns to the release voltage C for a moment as in the state of the times T ₃ and T ₄ in FIG. An affirmative judgment is made only when the judgment is made.

If the operating voltage V has not returned to the release voltage C, it can be determined that the jog pad 10 has been continuously pressed.
The change direction and the change amount of the operation voltage V are obtained based on the operation voltage V detected in the above step 106, and are displayed on the display 44 as shown in FIG. 16 in accordance with the obtained change direction and the change amount of the operation voltage V. The cursor 72 is moved in the direction of the arrow W1 or the arrow W2 with respect to the entered character string. Thereafter, the process returns to step 106.

On the other hand, when the operating voltage V returns to the release voltage C in step 108, the process proceeds to step 112, and the character indicated by the cursor 72 moved in step 110 is specified as the input character information.

Further, in the next step 114, the specified character information is displayed in a predetermined area 44A of the display 44. Then, it outputs to the operation unit 42 at a predetermined timing (for example, when all the desired characters have been input).
The operation unit 42 performs, for example, an operation of recording the character information input as described above on the mini disc.

According to the first embodiment described above, when the jog pad 10 is pressed and the pressed portion moves along the resistor 14, the microcomputer 40 detects the pressed portion based on a change in the voltage of the voltage detection terminal 30. Is determined, the cursor 72 on the display 44 is moved according to the determined movement direction and amount, and finally the cursor 7 is moved.
The character specified in 2 can be specified as the input character information. That is, character information equivalent to that of a conventional jog dial can be input.

On the other hand, the entire jog pad 10 can be formed very thin, so that the jog pad 10 can be reduced in size and weight. Further, since components such as a rotary knob and a rotating shaft thereof are not required unlike the conventional jog dial, the number of components can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, in the jog pad 10, the conductor 16 and the resistor 14 are provided inside the folded sheet 12, so that an airtight structure can be obtained. As a result, in the detection of the operating voltage V, an error due to the influence of dust, gas, dust, etc.
Variation can be prevented. Also, instead of sliding the electrical contacts along the resistor as in the past,
Since only the conductor 16 and the resistor 14 which are installed facing each other in advance are brought into contact with each other, the reliability of detection can be improved as compared with the related art in which the detection depends on the contact by sliding.

Further, the jog pad 10 of the first embodiment
In FIG. 15A, a resolution of 16 steps is provided for one rotation as shown by 16 marks 82 in FIG. 15A.
The resolution can be easily improved, for example, by two steps.

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the example of the shape of the resistor 14 is an arc, but the shape of the resistor 14 is not limited to this. It is sufficient if the shape is long and close. For example, an elliptical resistor 14T as shown in FIG. 14A may be used,
A polygonal resistor 14U as shown in FIG. 14B may be used.

[Second Embodiment] Next, an example in which the jog pad 10 has a tact switch function in addition to a jog dial function will be described as a second embodiment.

The configurations of the information input device 11 and the jog pad 10 according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus the description is omitted. However, as shown in FIG. 6, four voltage ranges are set for the voltage value of the voltage detection terminal 30,
For each voltage range, skip forward (F-SKIP), skip backward (B-SKIP), play (PLAY) and stop (S
(TOP). Specifically, the voltage range of the stop voltage 0 to V _1, the voltage range of the reproducing voltage V ₁ ~V _2, the voltage range of the voltage V ₂ ~V ₃ backward skip, the voltage V ₃ ~V ₄ forward skip The voltage range is assigned.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 15B, the front skip (F-SKIP), the rear skip (B-SKIP), Play (PLAY) and stop (ST
OP) are displayed. On the other hand, a mark 82 (a dial scale) as in the first embodiment is displayed outside the above function display.

When the jog pad 10 is pressed as described above, the voltage of the voltage detection terminal 30 changes from the release voltage C according to the position of the pressed portion. The microcomputer 40 operates at the operating voltage immediately after the change from the release voltage C at this time (hereinafter referred to as the operating voltage
Operating voltage V _A ), and detects the detected operating voltage V
_It has a function of specifying the position of the pressed portion based on _A and specifying the function information corresponding to the position of the pressed portion.

Next, an input information specifying process by the microcomputer 40 as an operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, the same processes as those in FIG. 5 described in the first embodiment have “A” appended to the end of the step numbers.

In steps 102A and 104A of FIG. 7, the voltage of the voltage detection terminal 30 has changed from the release voltage C.
That is, it is detected that the jog pad 10 has been pressed. When the jog pad 10 is pressed, step 104
An affirmative decision is made at A, and the routine proceeds to step 106A. In step 106A, the operating voltage V is detected, and the next step 107
Then, it is determined whether the operating voltage _VA immediately after the change from the release voltage C has continued for a predetermined time or more.

For example, while the jog pad 10 is being pressed,
If the movement is continued for a predetermined time or longer without moving, step 107
And the process proceeds to step 113. Step 113
Then, the operating voltage V_AIs the stop voltage range, the playback voltage range
Enclosure, backward skip voltage range, forward skip voltage range
Of the operating voltage
V_ASpecify the function information corresponding to. For example, changed
Immediately after the voltage value is V₁~ V _TwoFunction information if
"Reproduction" is specified as information.

Further, in the next step 114 A, the specified information, for example, “reproduction” is displayed in a predetermined area 44 A of the display 44 and output to the operation section 42. The operation unit 42 performs, for example, a reproduction operation of the mini-disc based on the specified function information “reproduction”.

Incidentally, the information input device 11 of the second embodiment also has the function of the jog dial described in the first embodiment. A character input mode is set by a mode setting key (not shown), and a character string is displayed on the display 44 as shown in FIG. In this state, the jog pad 1 shown in FIG.
When 0 is pressed and the pressed portion is rotated in the direction of arrow Y1 or arrow Y2, negative determinations are made in steps 107 and 108A in FIG. 7, and thereafter, the detection of the operating voltage V in step 106A and the detection in step 110A. Operating voltage V
And the movement of the cursor 72 (see FIG. 16) in accordance with the change of. When the pressing is stopped, the operating voltage V returns to the release voltage C, so that an affirmative determination is made in step 108A,
Proceed to step 112A. In step 112A, as in the first embodiment, the character specified by the cursor 72 is specified as input character information. Further, in the next step 114, the specified character information is displayed in a predetermined area 44A of the display 44, and a predetermined timing (for example,
When all the desired characters have been input), it is output to the operation unit 42. The operation unit 42 performs, for example, an operation of recording the character information input as described above on the mini disc.

According to the second embodiment described above, when the jog pad 10 is pressed at a position corresponding to desired function information for a predetermined time or more, the voltage of the voltage detection terminal 30 changes,
The position of the pressed portion can be specified based on the operating voltage _VA immediately after the change, and the function information corresponding to the position of the pressed portion can be specified. That is, information input equivalent to that of the conventional tact switch can be performed.

In the second embodiment, the jog pad 10 having both the function of the jog dial and the function of the tact switch has been described. However, it goes without saying that a jog pad having only the function of the tact switch can be realized. For example, in the control routine of FIG.
By omitting the processes of A and 112A, the input information specifying process of only the function of the tact switch can be executed.

In the jog pad 10 shown in FIG. 1, if the interval between the ends 14A and 14B of the resistor 14 is wider than a single pressing range by the finger, the resistor 1
When the pressing portion is moved along 4 and reaches the end portion 14B and moves to the end portion 14A, the finger temporarily moves away from the jog pad 10. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the voltage of the voltage detection terminal 30 is equal to the time T _A when the finger is separated from the end 14B.
Between to time T ₃ in contact with the end portion 14A, is kept constant at release voltage C.

In the first and second embodiments, the step shown in FIG.
In step 108A of FIG.
Only when the voltage V has returned to the release voltage C for a predetermined time or more,
So that it is determined that the pressing on the jog pad 10 has been completed.
But the above time T_A, T _ThreeIs longer than the specified time
When it is up, the pressing on the jog pad 10 is terminated
There is a possibility that it is determined that.

Therefore, in the jog pad 10, the resistor 14
It is desirable to reduce the interval between the end portions 14A and 14B. FIGS. 9A and 9B show a configuration example of a resistor 14S in which the interval between the ends 14A and 14B is narrowed. In the ring-shaped resistor 14S, as shown in FIG. 9B, a protrusion 14C is provided on the inside at the end 14A, and a protrusion 14D is provided on the outside at the end 14B. Projection 14
C and 14D overlap in the radial direction of the annular resistor 14S by the width D shown in FIG. 9B.

When the resistor 14S having the narrower interval between the ends 14A and 14B is used, the voltage of the voltage detection terminal 30 changes as shown in FIG. As is apparent from FIG. 10, the operating voltage V does not continue at the release voltage C for a predetermined time or more. Thus, it is possible to prevent the erroneous determination that the pressing on the jog pad 10 has been completed. When the resistor 14S shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B is used, since the finger contacts the tip of the projection 14C before reaching the tip of the projection 14D, the operating voltage V is reduced to the release voltage C.
Before reaching (when the voltage E is slightly lower than the release voltage C), the finger contacts the tip of the protrusion 14C (time T in FIG. 10).
_B ), the operating voltage V becomes “0”.

[0090]

According to the first or fourth aspect of the present invention, when the resistance value R of the resistor that contributes to the electric circuit formed by the resistor and the conductor when the jog pad is pressed is detected, The position of the pressed portion, the moving direction and the moving amount of the pressed portion are specified based on the change in the resistance value R, and the information corresponding to the specified position of the pressed portion, the moving direction and the moving amount of the pressed portion is specified. It becomes possible.

Further, since it is not necessary to separately provide components such as a rotary knob and a rotary shaft thereof, the whole can be formed very thin, and the size and weight can be reduced. Further, the number of parts can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, since the resistor is provided on one of the opposed surfaces of the pair of flat portions and the conductor is provided on the other opposed surface of the pair of flat portions, an airtight structure can be obtained. When detecting the resistance value R or the like between both ends, it is possible to prevent errors and variations from occurring due to the influence of dust, gas, dust and the like in the detection. Also, instead of sliding the electrical contacts of the slider along the resistor as in the prior art, only the conductor and the resistor, which are arranged facing each other in advance, are brought into contact with each other.
The reliability of the detection can be improved as compared with the related art that relies on contact by sliding.

Further, by finely classifying the amount of movement of the pressed portion in advance and setting information for each of a large number of classified amounts of movement, the detection resolution can be easily improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the jog pad is not pressed, the conductor and the resistor can be more reliably separated from each other, and the reliability of detection is further improved. be able to.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the resistor and the conductor from being in a non-contact state despite pressing the jog pad.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the pressing operation specifying means specifies information only when the detected potential changes and the changed potential continues for a predetermined time or more. It is possible to prevent a useless operation in which the pressing operation specifying unit operates every time in the case of unexpected contact or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an internal structure of a jog pad.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a jog pad in a thickness direction.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an information input device using a jog pad as an operation unit.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a temporal change of a voltage of a voltage detection terminal in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control routine of an input information specifying process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a temporal change of a voltage of a voltage detection terminal in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a control routine of an input information specifying process according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a temporal change of a voltage of a voltage detection terminal when both ends of a resistor are separated by a predetermined value or more.

FIG. 9A is an overall view of a resistor modified so as to reduce the distance between both ends, and FIG. 9B is an enlarged view showing a structure near both ends of the resistor.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing a temporal change of the voltage of the voltage detection terminal when the resistor of FIG. 9A is used.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional jog dial and a decision key.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional rotary encoder.

FIG. 13 is a graph and a table showing temporal changes in output when the rotary encoder of FIG. 12 is used.

14A is a diagram illustrating an example in which the shape of the resistor is elliptical, and FIG. 14B is a diagram illustrating an example in which the shape of the resistor is rectangular.

FIG. 15A is a diagram illustrating a surface of the jog pad according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 15B is a diagram illustrating a surface of the jog pad according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a display in a character input mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Jog pad 11 Information input device 12 Sheet (support member) 14 Resistor 14A, 14B Projection 16 Conductor 22 Spacer sheet (spacer) 30 Voltage detection terminal 40 Microcomputer

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A sheet-shaped insulator having a pair of opposed flat portions, wherein when one flat portion is pressed toward the other flat portion, the pressed portion is recessed and returns to its original position by elastic force. And a thin plate-shaped resistor formed in a loop shape so that both ends thereof are close to each other and arranged on one of the opposing surfaces of the pair of flat portions. One end is electrically connected to one end of the resistor. A thin plate-shaped conductor facing the resistor and spaced apart in a non-pressed state on the other opposing surface of the pair of flat portions; and pressing when the one flat portion is pressed. When the resistor and the conductor are in direct contact with each other at a position corresponding to the portion, and the pressed portion moves along the arrangement of the resistor while the flat portion is pressed, the resistor and the conductor are moved in accordance with the movement of the pressed portion. As the contact part moves, the contact part moves in series The resistance of the resistor changes contribute to the electric circuit composed of the connection a resistor and conductor, jog pad, characterized in that. 2. The jog pad according to claim 1, wherein a spacer is provided at a portion other than a portion where the conductor or the resistor is disposed in a gap between the pair of flat portions. 3. The resistor has a first protrusion on the outer periphery of one end, and is formed on the inner periphery of the other end so as to overlap with the first protrusion in the width direction. The jog pad according to claim 1, further comprising a second protrusion formed. 4. An information input device for inputting information set in advance corresponding to the pressing operation or the moving operation by pressing a surface of a predetermined jog pad or moving a pressing portion while pressing the surface. There is a sheet-like insulator having a pair of opposed flat portions, and when one flat portion is pressed toward the other flat portion side, the pressed portion is recessed and is configured to return to its original state by elastic force. A support member, a thin plate-shaped resistor formed in a loop shape such that both ends thereof are close to each other, and disposed on one of the opposing surfaces of the pair of flat portions; one end being electrically connected to one end of the resistor; A thin plate-shaped conductor facing the resistor on the other facing surface of the pair of flat portions and spaced apart in a non-pressed state; and a jog pad comprising: State with potential difference of When the one flat portion is pressed, a detecting unit that detects the potential at both ends of the resistor, and an input information specifying unit that specifies input information based on the potential detected by the detecting unit. An information input device comprising: 5. The input information specifying unit, based on a potential detected by the detection unit, determines whether or not a pressed portion has been moved while the one flat portion is being pressed; The information according to claim 4, further comprising: a movement operation specifying unit that specifies information corresponding to the movement operation based on the detected potential when the determination unit determines that the pressed portion has moved. Input device. 6. The input information specifying unit determines, based on a potential detected by the detection unit, whether or not a pressed portion has been moved while the one flat portion is being pressed; The method according to claim 4, further comprising: a pressing operation specifying unit that specifies information corresponding to the pressing operation based on the detected potential when the determining unit determines that the pressing portion has not moved. Information input device. 7. The information input according to claim 6, wherein the pressing operation specifying means specifies the information only when the detected potential changes and the changed potential lasts for a predetermined time or more. apparatus.